AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Exhibit 2.2
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this Agreement) is dated as of February 12, 2015, by and among Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), New Mountain Partners II (AIV-B), L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware (New Mountain), New Mountain Partners II Special (AIV-A), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (New Mountain Blocker), ARCH Venture Fund VI, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware (ARCH Ventures), IRDO Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (IRDO), Venrock Associates IV, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware (Venrock Associates), Venrock Partners, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware (Venrock Partners), and Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund IV, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware (Venrock Entrepreneurs and, together with Venrock Associates and Venrock Partners, Venrock), Venrock IK Holdings BT, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Venrock Blocker), 5AM Ventures LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware (5AM Ventures), and 5AM Co-Investors LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware (5AM Co-Investors and, together with 5AM Ventures, 5AM), and 5AM-BT, Inc., a Delaware corporation (5AM-BT). The Company, New Mountain, New Mountain Blocker, ARCH Ventures, IRDO, Venrock, Venrock Blocker, 5AM and 5AM-BT are collectively referred to herein as the Parties, and each individually is referred to herein as a Party. All references to the Company include its predecessor, Bellerophon Therapeutics LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in anticipation of the initial public offering of the Company, on the date hereof, the Company has previously completed a conversion (the Conversion) from a limited liability company to a corporation,
WHEREAS, (i) the board of directors of the Company and the general partner of New Mountain Blocker deem it advisable that New Mountain Blocker merge with and into the Company (the New Mountain Blocker Merger), (ii) the board of directors of the Company and the board of directors of IRDO deem it advisable that IRDO merge with and into the Company (the IRDO Merger), (iii) the board of directors of the Company and the board of directors of Venrock Blocker deem it advisable that Venrock Blocker merge with and into the Company (the Venrock Blocker Merger) and (iv) the board of directors of the Company and the board of directors of 5AM-BT deem it advisable that 5AM-BT merge with and into the Company (the 5AM-BT Merger, and collectively with the New Mountain Blocker Merger, IRDO Merger, Venrock Blocker Merger and 5AM-BT Merger, the Mergers), in each case, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with Delaware Law;
WHEREAS, the board of managers, board of directors or general partner, as applicable, and, if applicable, the equityholders of each of the Company, New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT have approved the New Mountain Blocker Merger, IRDO Merger, Venrock Blocker Merger and 5AM-BT Merger, as applicable, in accordance with the requirements of Delaware Law and their respective organizational documents; and
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that each of the Mergers qualifies as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and that this Agreement shall constitute a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g) with respect to each Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
1.1 Definitions. As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other Person. For purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be considered an Affiliate of any of the other Parties to this Agreement.
Business Day means a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable Law to close.
Closing Date means the date of the Closing.
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Common Stock means the Companys Voting Common Stock, par value $0.01, with the rights, preferences and privileges as described in the Companys certificate of incorporation.
Delaware Law means, collectively, the DGCL and the DRULPA.
DGCL means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
DRULPA means the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act of the State of Delaware.
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Law means any law, statute, regulation, rule, permit, license, certificate, judgment, order, award or other legally binding decision or requirement of any arbitrator, court, government or governmental agency or instrumentality (domestic or foreign).
Lien means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge or security interest in respect of such property or asset.
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets or results of operations of the applicable Merged Entity, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the applicable Merged Entity to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Merged Entities means New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT, and the term Merged Entity means any one of them, as the case may be.
Permitted Liens and Exceptions means Liens for Taxes, assessments and similar charges that are not yet due and payable.
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
Pre-Closing Tax Period means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date.
Subsidiary means any entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by a Person.
Tax means (1) any tax or other governmental fee or like assessment or charge in the nature of a tax; including, but not limited to, withholding on amounts paid to or by any Person, federal and state income taxes, real property gains taxes, sales and use taxes, escheat taxes, abandoned or unclaimed property taxes, ad valorem taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts taxes, business license taxes, capital stock taxes, real and personal property taxes, environmental taxes, transfer taxes, severance taxes, alternative or add-on minimum taxes, and custom duties, together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any governmental authority (whether federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or otherwise) responsible for the imposition of any such tax (a Taxing Authority) and (2) any liability for the payment of any amount of the type described in the immediately preceding clause (1) as a result of a Merged Entity being a member of an affiliated, consolidated or combined group with any other corporation at any time on or prior to the Closing Date.
Transaction Documents means this Agreement and the Exhibits attached hereto.
Voting Agreement means that certain Voting Agreement, dated February 12, 2014, by and among the Company, New Mountain Partners II (AIV-A), L.P., New Mountain Affiliated Investors II, L.P., Allegheny New Mountain Partners, L.P., IRDO, Venrock Blocker, Linde North America, Inc., 5AM-BT and Aravis Venture I L.P.
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Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:
Term |
| Section |
5AM |
| Preamble |
5AM Co-Investors |
| Preamble |
5AM Ventures |
| Preamble |
5AM-BT |
| Preamble |
5AM-BT Merger |
| Recitals |
ARCH Ventures |
| Preamble |
Agreement |
| Preamble |
Certificate of Merger |
| 2.1(b) |
Claim |
| 7.3(a) |
Closing |
| 2.2 |
Company |
| Preamble |
Conversion |
| Recitals |
Damages |
| 7.2(a) |
Indemnified Party |
| 7.3(a) |
Indemnifying Party |
| 7.3(a) |
IRDO |
| Preamble |
IRDO Merger |
| Recitals |
Merger Effective Time |
| 2.1(b) |
Mergers |
| Recitals |
New Mountain |
| Preamble |
New Mountain Blocker |
| Preamble |
New Mountain Blocker Merger |
| Recitals |
Parties |
| Preamble |
Party |
| Preamble |
Potential Contributor |
| 7.4 |
Registration Statement |
| 2.1(b) |
Returns |
| 3.11 |
Securities |
| 3.5 |
Surviving Company |
| 2.1(a) |
Third Party Claim |
| 7.3(b) |
Transfer Taxes |
| 6.1(b) |
Venrock |
| Preamble |
Venrock Blocker |
| Preamble |
Venrock Blocker Merger |
| Recitals |
Venrock Associates |
| Preamble |
Venrock Entrepreneurs |
| Preamble |
Venrock Partners |
| Preamble |
Warranty Breach |
| 7.2(a) |
1.2 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words hereof, herein, and hereunder and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
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whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Articles, Sections, and Exhibits are to Articles, Sections, and Exhibits of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words include, includes, or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation, whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. Writing, written, and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. References to law, laws, or to a particular statute or law shall be deemed also to include any and all Laws.
ARTICLE II
The Mergers And Other Transactions
2.1 The Mergers.
(a) At the Merger Effective Time (as defined below), and in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and Delaware Law, each of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT shall be merged with and into the Company. Following the Mergers, the separate corporate or limited partnership existence, as applicable, of each of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving company (the Surviving Company).
(b) At the time determined by the Company, promptly following the Conversion and prior to the effectiveness of the Companys registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201474) (the Registration Statement) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company shall cause a certificate of merger in form and substance as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (the Certificate of Merger) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, all as provided for and in accordance with Section 251 and Section 264 of the DGCL and Section 17-211 of the DRULPA. The Mergers shall become effective at the time and date as provided under Delaware Law and as specified in the Certificate of Merger (the Merger Effective Time). References to the Company after the Merger Effective Time shall mean the Surviving Company.
(c) Each Merger shall have the effects set forth under Delaware Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Merger Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, and powers of each of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock
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Blocker and 5AM-BT shall vest in the Surviving Company, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of each of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that, upon consummation of the Mergers, the respective rights and obligations of IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT under the Voting Agreement shall be transferred to ARCH Ventures, Venrock and 5AM, respectively, in accordance with the terms thereof.
(d) The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Company until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable Law.
(e) Subject to applicable Law, (i) the directors of the Company immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Company and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation, or removal, and (ii) the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Company and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation, or removal.
(f) All of the equity interests of each of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT outstanding as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time shall, as of the Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party hereto or the holder thereof or any other Person, be canceled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive the consideration specified in Section 2.1(g). All of such outstanding equity interests of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and the former holders thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the consideration specified in Section 2.1(g).
(g) At the Merger Effective Time:
(i) In respect of the outstanding equity interests of New Mountain Blocker held by New Mountain immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time and canceled and extinguished by virtue of the New Mountain Blocker Merger, New Mountain shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock held by New Mountain Blocker immediately prior to the New Mountain Blocker Merger, and such shares of Common Stock of the Company received pursuant to the New Mountain Blocker Merger shall be free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances;
(ii) In respect of the outstanding equity interests of IRDO held by ARCH Ventures immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time and canceled and extinguished by virtue of the IRDO Merger, ARCH Ventures shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock held by IRDO immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, and such shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the IRDO
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Merger shall be free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances;
(iii) In respect of the outstanding equity interests of Venrock Blocker held by Venrock Associates, Venrock Entrepreneurs and Venrock Partners immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time and canceled and extinguished by virtue of the Venrock Blocker Merger, Venrock Associates, Venrock Entrepreneurs and Venrock Partners shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock in the aggregate equal to the number of shares of Common Stock held by Venrock Blocker immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (with such shares of Common Stock allocated among Venrock Associates, Venrock Entrepreneurs and Venrock Partners in accordance with the allocations set forth on Schedule 2.1(g)(iii) hereto), and such shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the Venrock Blocker Merger shall be free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances; and
(iv) In respect of the outstanding equity interests of 5AM-BT held by 5AM Ventures and 5AM Co-Investors immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time and canceled and extinguished by virtue of the 5AM-BT Merger, 5AM Ventures and 5AM Co-Investors shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock in the aggregate equal to the number of shares of Common Stock held by 5AM-BT immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (with such shares of Common Stock allocated between 5AM Ventures and 5AM Co-Investors in accordance with the allocations set forth on Schedule 2.1(g)(iv) hereto), and such shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the 5AM-BT Merger shall be free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances.
(h) By their execution of this Agreement, New Mountain, as the sole limited partner of New Mountain Blocker, ARCH Ventures, as the sole stockholder of IRDO, Venrock as the sole stockholder of Venrock Blocker and 5AM as the sole stockholder of 5AM-BT, each waives its right to any dissent to the New Mountain Blocker Merger, the IRDO Merger, the Venrock Blocker Merger and the 5AM-BT Merger, respectively, and demand appraisal for its shares of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker and 5AM-BT, respectively, under the DGCL, or otherwise.
2.2 Closing. The closing (the Closing) of the transactions contemplated hereunder shall take place at the offices of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. At the Closing:
(i) The Certificate of Merger shall be filed pursuant to the terms of Section 2.1.
(ii) Each of the Parties shall deliver such other documents, instruments and agreements as are required to be delivered by such Party at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
2.3 Contribution of Cash. Prior to the Merger Effective Time, if any Merged Entity does not have an amount of cash sufficient to pay all liabilities of such Merged Entity (as estimated in good faith by each Merged Entity), including Taxes for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, the equity holders of such Merged Entity shall contribute an amount of cash to such Merged Entity such
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that following such contribution, the Merged Entity will have an amount of cash sufficient to pay all such liabilities.
2.4 Payment of Indebtedness. No later than immediately prior to the Closing, each Merged Entity shall repay all indebtedness for borrowed money (including any capital leases) of such Merged Entity outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any obligations related thereto (including any accrued interest or prepayment penalties). At Closing, each Merged Entity shall deliver the Company customary payoff letters from each holder of any indebtedness of such Merged Entity to be repaid at the Closing.
ARTICLE III
Representations And Warranties Of The Merged Entities
Each of the Merged Entities, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof that:
3.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Such Merged Entity is a corporation or limited partnership duly incorporated or organized, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable, with full power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use.
3.2 Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Merged Entity of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby are within the corporate or limited partnership powers and authority, as applicable, of such Merged Entity and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited partnership action, as applicable, on the part of such Merged Entity. Each of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party constitutes, or will when executed constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Merged Entity enforceable against such Merged Entity in accordance with its respective terms, (a) except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors rights generally, including the effect of statutory and other laws concerning fraudulent conveyances and preferential transfers and (b) subject to the limitations imposed by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in proceeding at law or in equity).
3.3 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Merged Entity of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby require no action, consent or approval by or in respect of, filing with or notice to, any governmental body, agency or official other than the Certificate of Merger and any other such action or filing as to which the failure to make or obtain would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
3.4 Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Merged Entity of any of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with the
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organizational documents of such Merged Entity or any resolution adopted by or any action taken by the board of directors, board of managers, general partner or equityholders of such Merged Entity, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.3, contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law binding upon or applicable to such Merged Entity, (c) with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, constitute a default under or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of such Merged Entity, or to a loss of any benefit to which such Merged Entity is entitled, under any provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument to which such Party is a party or by which it or its properties or assets is bound or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens and Exceptions) upon or with respect to such Merged Entity or its assets.
3.5 Capitalization. New Mountain Blocker represents and warrants that New Mountain owns 100% of the limited partnership interests of New Mountain Blocker. IRDO represents and warrants that ARCH Ventures owns 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of IRDO. Venrock Blocker represents and warrants that Venrock owns 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Venrock Blocker. 5AM-BT represents and warrants that 5AM owns 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of 5AM-BT. All of the capital stock or equity interests, as applicable, of such Merged Entity have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Other than the capital stock or equity interests issued to New Mountain (and the general partnership interest in New Mountain Blocker held by the general partner of New Mountain Blocker), ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM described in this Section 3.5, there are no outstanding (a) capital stock or equity interests or other voting securities of such Merged Entity, (b) securities of such Merged Entity convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or equity interests or other voting securities of such Merged Entity or (c) options or other rights to acquire from such Merged Entity, or other obligation of such Merged Entity to issue, any capital stock or equity interests or other voting securities of such Merged Entity or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or equity interests or other voting securities of such Merged Entity (the items in clauses (a) through (c) being referred to collectively as the Securities). There are no outstanding obligations of such Merged Entity to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Securities and there are no agreements or other instruments relating to the issuance, sale or transfer by such Merged Entity of any Securities.
3.6 Subsidiaries. Such Merged Entity has no Subsidiaries. Such Merged Entity does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct or indirect equity participation in any corporation, partnership, trust, or other business association (other than the Company).
3.7 No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. Such Merged Entity does not conduct any operating or other business or related general business operations, other than its activities as a holding company incident to its direct or indirect ownership of equity interests of the Company. Such Merged Entity does not have any liabilities of any kind, character or description (whether known or unknown, accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), other than (a) deferred income Taxes that reflect only timing differences between the treatment of items for accounting and income tax purposes, and (b) income Taxes with respect to Pre-Closing Tax Periods that are not yet due and payable.
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3.8 Related Party Agreements. Except as otherwise provided in the Transaction Documents, there are no agreements, contracts, commitments or understandings, other than any such agreements, contracts, commitments or understandings that will be terminated as of Closing without any further liability or obligation on the part of such Merged Entity, by and between such Merged Entity, on the one hand, and such Merged Entitys Affiliates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, any such agreements, contracts, commitments or understandings pursuant to which such Affiliate provides or receives any information, assets, properties, support or other services to or from such entity.
3.9 Litigation. There is no claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against or, to the knowledge of such Merged Entity, threatened against, such Merged Entity or any of its assets before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official. As of the date hereof, such Merged Entity is not aware of any claim, action, suit investigation or proceeding pending or threatened against such Merged Entity or any of its assets, or any orders or decrees binding on such Merged Entity or any of its assets.
3.10 Compliance with Laws. Such Merged Entity is, and at all times since the date of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, has been, in compliance with all applicable Laws.
3.11 Taxes. Each Merged Entity, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof that (a) all Tax returns, statements, reports and forms (collectively, Returns) that are material and are required to be filed with any Taxing Authority by, or with respect to, such Merged Entity on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any duly obtained extensions) have been, or will be, timely filed, (b) such Merged Entity has timely paid all Taxes due and payable by such Merged Entity shown as due and payable on the Returns that have been filed, (c) the Returns that have been filed are true, correct and complete in all material respects, (d) there is no action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit or claim now proposed (to such Merged Entitys knowledge) or pending against or with respect to such Merged Entity in respect of any material Tax, (e) such Merged Entity has properly withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any equityholder, employee, creditor, independent contractor, or other third party, (f) there is no claim pending or to such Merged Entitys knowledge, proposed or threatened by a Taxing Authority, in a jurisdiction where such Merged Entity does not file Returns that such Merged Entity is or may be subject to taxation in such jurisdiction, (g) assuming the applicable Merger qualifies as Tax-free, such Merged Entity has no liability for Taxes for any Pre-Closing Tax Period in excess of the amount of cash retained by the respective Merged Entity pursuant to Section 2.3 to pay such Taxes, (h) such Merged Entity has not received any notice in writing from a Taxing Authority of any proposed or pending action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit or claim with respect to such Merged Entity in respect of any Tax, and (i) such Merged Entity has not consented to extend the time, nor is the beneficiary of any extension of time, in which any Tax may be assessed or collected by any Taxing Authority.
3.12 Inspections; No Other Representations. No Merged Entity makes any express or implied representations or warranties of any nature, whether in writing, oral or otherwise, made by or on behalf of or imputed to any Merged Entity or any of its Affiliates, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Merged Entity nor any of its Affiliates makes any representation or warranty with respect to any projections,
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estimates or budgets delivered to or made available to the Company of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) or any other information or documents made available to the Company or its counsel, accountants or advisors with respect to any Merged Entity or any of the foregoing business, assets, liabilities or operations.
ARTICLE IV
Representations And Warranties Of The Company
The Company represents and warrants to each of the other Parties, as of the date hereof, that:
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with full power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use. The shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company in the Mergers will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
4.2 Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby are within the corporate powers and authority of the Company and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. Each of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is or will be a party constitutes, or will when executed constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, (a) except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors rights generally, including the effect of statutory and other laws concerning fraudulent conveyances and preferential transfers, and (b) subject to the limitations imposed by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
4.3 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby require no action, consent or approval by or in respect of, filing with or material notice to, any governmental body, agency or official other than: (a) the filing of the Certificate of Merger; and (b) any other such action or filing as to which the failure to make or obtain would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
4.4 Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of any of the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with the certificate of incorporation of the Company or any resolution adopted by or any action taken by the board of directors or stockholders of the Company, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred
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to in Section 4.3, contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law binding upon or applicable to the Company, (c) with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, constitute a default under or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company, or to a loss of any benefit to which the Company is entitled under any provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its properties or assets are bound or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens and Exceptions) upon or with respect to the Company or its properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (b), (c) or (d), for any such contravention, conflict, violation, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration or loss that would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
ARTICLE V
Covenants Of The Parties
Each of the Parties hereto agrees that:
5.1 Reasonable Best Efforts; Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party will use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents. Each Party shall execute and deliver such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and to take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order to consummate or implement expeditiously the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents.
5.2 Public Announcements. Other than the Company, none of the other Parties hereto may issue any press release or make any public statement with respect to any Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated thereby.
ARTICLE VI
Tax Matters
6.1 Tax Covenants
(a) The Company shall prepare and timely file all Returns that are required to be filed after the Closing reflecting the income of each Merged Entity for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods. No later than thirty (30) days prior to filing any such Return, the Company shall submit such Return to New Mountain (in the case of New Mountain Blocker), ARCH Ventures (in the case of IRDO), Venrock (in the case of Venrock Blocker) and 5AM (in the case of 5AM-BT) for review and consent. If an amount of Taxes due with such Return that is less than the amount of cash that was held by the respective Merged Entity immediately prior to the Closing (after giving effect to the other liabilities, if any, of such Merged Entity immediately prior to the Closing), then within ten (10) Business Days after filing the applicable Return, the Company shall pay the amount of such excess cash to New Mountain (in the case of New Mountain Blocker), ARCH Ventures (in
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the case of IRDO), Venrock (in the case of Venrock Blocker) and 5AM (in the case of 5AM-BT).
(b) Returns related to any transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with the Mergers (all such Taxes, Transfer Taxes) shall be filed by the Party required to file such Returns under applicable Law and such Party shall pay the Transfer Taxes shown thereon. The provisions of this Section 6.1(b), and no other provision, will govern the allocation between the parties of the economic burden of Transfer Taxes.
6.2 Pre-Closing Tax Refunds. New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM shall be entitled to any Tax refunds attributable to any Pre-Closing Tax Period of New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker, or 5AM-BT, respectively, and the Company shall promptly pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds any such refunds to New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM, as the case may be, less any applicable Taxes, withholdings or reasonable expenses, after receipt thereof. If New Mountain Blocker, IRDO, Venrock Blocker or 5AM-BT has a net operating loss for a Pre-Closing Tax Period, the Company shall carryback such loss pursuant to Section 172 of the Code and file a claim for refund on IRS Form 1139 with respect to such carryback and promptly pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds such refund to New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM, as the case may be, after receipt thereof. The Company shall file for, at the request of New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM, and use reasonable commercial efforts to obtain any refund to which New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM, as the case may be, is entitled under this section.
6.3 Tax Reporting. The Parties agree to treat, for U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of Conversion entered into by the Company in connection with the Conversion as governed by Sections 351 and 368 of the Code and report consistently with such treatment for all U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes.
ARTICLE VII
Survival; Indemnification
7.1 Survival. The representations and warranties of any of the Parties hereto contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date and shall expire on the date that is one year following the Closing Date. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive Closing and shall continue in full force and effect indefinitely or for the shorter period specified in this Agreement. Any breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Agreement shall survive the time at which it would otherwise terminate pursuant to this Section 7.1 if notice of the inaccuracy or breach thereof giving rise to such right of indemnity shall have been given to the Party against whom such indemnity may be sought prior to such time.
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7.2 Indemnification.
(a) From and after Closing, the Company hereby indemnifies New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock and 5AM against and agrees to hold each of them harmless from (i) any and all damage, loss, liability and expense (including, without limitation, reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys fees and expenses in connection with any action, suit or proceeding) (Damages) actually incurred or suffered by New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM, as applicable, arising out of or resulting from any inaccuracy or breach of any representation and warranty (each such inaccuracy and breach, a Warranty Breach) or breach of a covenant, in each case of the Company contained in the Transaction Documents or in the exhibits, schedules or certificates to, or delivered in connection with, the Transaction Documents or (ii) any and all Damages incurred or suffered by New Mountain, ARCH Ventures, Venrock or 5AM, as applicable, on account of the gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud of the Company.
(b) From and after Closing, New Mountain hereby indemnifies the Company against and agrees to hold it harmless from (i) any and all Damages actually incurred or suffered by the Company arising out of or related in any way to any Warranty Breach or breach of a covenant, in each case of New Mountain or New Mountain Blocker contained in the Transaction Documents or in the exhibits, schedules or certificates to, or delivered in connection with, the Transaction Documents or (ii) any and all Damages incurred or suffered by the Company on account of the gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud of New Mountain or New Mountain Blocker.
(c) From and after Closing, ARCH Ventures hereby indemnifies the Company against and agrees to hold it harmless from (i) any and all Damages actually incurred or suffered by the Company arising out of or related in any way to any Warranty Breach or breach of a covenant, in each case of ARCH Ventures or IRDO contained in the Transaction Documents or in the exhibits, schedules or certificates to, or delivered in connection with, the Transaction Documents or (ii) any and all Damages incurred or suffered by the Company on account of the gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud of ARCH Ventures or IRDO.
(d) From and after Closing, Venrock hereby indemnifies the Company against and agrees to hold it harmless from (i) any and all Damages actually incurred or suffered by the Company arising out of or related in any way to any Warranty Breach or breach of a covenant, in each case of Venrock or Venrock Blocker contained in the Transaction Documents or in the exhibits, schedules or certificates to, or delivered in connection with, the Transaction Documents or (ii) any and all Damages incurred or suffered by the Company on account of the gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud of Venrock or Venrock Blocker.
(e) From and after Closing, 5AM hereby indemnifies the Company against and agrees to hold it harmless from (i) any and all Damages actually incurred or suffered by the Company arising out of or related in any way to any Warranty Breach or breach of a covenant, in each case of 5AM or 5AM-BT contained in the Transaction Documents or in the exhibits, schedules or certificates to, or delivered in connection with, the Transaction Documents or (ii) any and all Damages incurred or suffered by the Company on account of the gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud of 5AM or 5AM-BT.
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(f) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, other than in the case of a claim based on gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud, no Party shall be entitled to seek, nor be entitled to, incidental, indirect punitive, special or consequential damages (including damages for any lost profits) in any Claim for indemnification or recovery of Damages pursuant to this Agreement unless such type of damages are sought against such Party by an unaffiliated or unrelated third party.
7.3 Procedures.
(a) The Party seeking indemnification under Section 7.2 (the Indemnified Party) agrees to give prompt notice to the Party against whom indemnity is sought (the Indemnifying Party) of the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding (Claim) in respect of which indemnity may be sought under such Section and will promptly provide the Indemnifying Party such information and access to personnel with respect thereto that the Indemnifying Party may reasonably request. The failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent such failure shall have adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
(b) The Indemnified Party shall obtain the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) before entering into any settlement of any Claim asserted by any third party (Third Party Claim).
(c) Each Party shall cooperate, and cause their respective Affiliates to cooperate, in the defense or prosecution of any Third Party Claim and shall furnish or cause to be furnished such records, information and testimony, and attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials or appeals, as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith.
(d) Each Indemnified Party must mitigate in accordance with applicable Law any loss for which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification under this Agreement. If such Indemnified Party mitigates its loss after the Indemnifying Party has paid the Indemnified Party under any indemnification provision of this Agreement in respect of that loss, the Indemnified Party must promptly notify the Indemnifying Party and promptly pay to the Indemnifying Party the extent of the value of the benefit (or, if less, the amount of any such loss previously paid by the Indemnifying Party) to the Indemnified Party of that mitigation (less the Indemnified Partys reasonable costs of mitigation).
(e) Each Indemnified Party shall use reasonable efforts to collect any amounts available under insurance coverage or through indemnification, contribution or other reimbursement arrangements from any other Person alleged to be responsible, for any Damages payable under Section 7.2, and the amounts received from such sources shall offset any Damages otherwise payable under Section 7.2
(f) Assignment of Claims. If the Indemnified Party receives any payment from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Damages pursuant to Section 7.2 and the Indemnified Party could have recovered all or a part of such Damages from a third party (other than any Subsidiary of the Company or any current or former employee or agent of such Persons) (a Potential Contributor) based on the underlying Claim asserted against the Indemnifying Party, the
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Indemnified Party shall assign such of its rights to proceed against the Potential Contributor as are necessary to permit the Indemnifying Party to recover from the Potential Contributor the amount of such payment.
7.4 Exclusivity. After the Closing, Article VII will provide the sole and exclusive remedy for any misrepresentation, breach of warranty, covenant or other agreement or other claim arising out of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby, including any claim for gross negligence, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or fraud. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that nothing herein shall prohibit any Party hereto from exercising its rights to seek equitable relief with respect to a breach of covenant or agreement under any Transaction Document.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
8.1 Notices. All notices, requests, or consents required or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) three (3) days after the date mailed by registered or certified mail, addressed to the recipient, with return receipt requested, (b) upon delivery to the recipient in person or by courier, or (c) upon receipt of a facsimile or e-mail transmission by the recipient. Such notices, requests and consents shall be given,
if to New Mountain or New Mountain Blocker, to:
c/o New Mountain Capital, L.L.C.
787 Seventh Avenue, 49th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attn: Adam Weinstein
if to ARCH Ventures or IRDO, to:
c/o ARCH Venture Partners
8725 West Higgins Road
Suite 290
Chicago, IL 60631
Attn: Mark McDonnell
if to Venrock or Venrock Blocker, to:
c/o Venrock Associates
3340 Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Attn: Bryan E. Roberts
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if to 5AM or 5AM-BT, to:
c/o 5AM Ventures LLC
2200 Sand Hill Road, Suite 1100
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Attn: Andrew Schwab
If to the Company, to:
c/o Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc.
53 Frontage Road, Suite 301
Hampton, NJ 08827
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Attention: Lia Der Marderosian, Esq.
or to such other address or facsimile number and with such other copies, as such Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties.
Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to the Parties pursuant to this Agreement, any notice to the Parties given by the Company under any provision of this Agreement shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the Party to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by such Party by written notice to the Company.
8.2 Amendments and Waivers.
(a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each Party to this Agreement, or in the case of a waiver, by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
(b) No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
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8.3 Expenses. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided for in any of the Transaction Documents, all costs and expenses incurred by any Party in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Closing shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs or expenses.
8.4 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no Party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of each other Party hereto.
8.5 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such state.
8.6 Consent to Jurisdiction. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, any of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby shall be brought in the United States District Court or any Delaware state court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware, so long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such suit, action or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of any of the Transaction Documents shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the State of Delaware, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any Party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party agrees that service of process on such Party as provided in Section 8.1 shall be deemed effective service of process on such Party.
8.7 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
8.8 Counterparts; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Each Transaction Document shall become effective when each Party thereto shall have received a counterpart thereof signed by the other Party thereto. No Transaction Document is intended to confer upon any Person other than the Parties thereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
8.9 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the
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subject matter of this Agreement. No representation, inducement, promise, understanding, condition or warranty not set forth herein has been made or relied upon by any Party hereto.
8.10 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such a determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be duly executed as of the day and year first above-written.
| COMPANY | |
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| BELLEROPHON THERAPEUTICS, INC. | |
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| By: | /s/ Jonathan M. Peacock |
| Name: Jonathan M. Peacock | |
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
| NEW MOUNTAIN | |
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| NEW MOUNTAIN PARTNERS II (AIV-B), L.P. | |
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| By: New Mountain Investments II, L.L.C. | |
| Its: General Partner | |
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| By: | /s/ Steven B. Klinsky |
| Name: Steven B. Klinsky | |
| Title: Managing Member | |
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| NEW MOUNTAIN BLOCKER | |
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| NEW MOUNTAIN PARTNERS II SPECIAL (AIV-A), L.P. | |
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| By: New Mountain Investments II, L.L.C. | |
| Its: General Partner | |
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| By: | /s/ Steven B. Klinsky |
| Name: Steven B. Klinsky | |
| Title: Managing Member |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
| VENROCK | ||
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| VENROCK ASSOCIATES IV, L.P. | ||
| By: Venrock Management IV, LLC | ||
| Its: General Partner | ||
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| VENROCK PARTNERS, L.P. | ||
| By: Venrock Partners Management, LLC | ||
| Its: General Partner | ||
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| VENROCK ENTREPRENEURS FUND IV, L.P. | ||
| By: VEF Management IV, LLC | ||
| Its: General Partner | ||
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| By: | /s/ Bryan Roberts | |
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| Authorized Signatory | |
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| VENROCK BLOCKER | ||
| Venrock IK Holdings BT, Inc. | ||
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| By: | /s/ David Stepp | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
| ARCH | ||
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| ARCH VENTURE FUND VI, L.P. | ||
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| By: | ARCH Venture Partners VI, L.P., | |
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| Its general partner | |
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| By: | ARCH Venture Partners VI, LLC, | |
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| Its general partner | |
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| By: | /s/ Robert T. Nelsen | |
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| Name: Robert T. Nelsen | |
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| Title: Managing Director | |
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| IRDO | ||
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| IRDO Holding Corp. | ||
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| By: | /s/ Mark McDonnell | |
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| Name: Mark McDonnell | |
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| Title: Secretary | |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
| 5AM | ||
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| 5AM VENTURES LLC | ||
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| By: | 5AM Partners LLC, | |
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| Its manager | |
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| By: | /s/ Andrew J. Schwab | |
| Name: Andrew J. Schwab | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
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| 5AM CO-INVESTORS LLC | ||
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| By: | 5AM Partners LLC, | |
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| Its manager | |
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| By: | /s/ Andrew J. Schwab | |
| Name: Andrew J. Schwab | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
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| 5AM-BT | ||
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| 5AM-BT, INC. | ||
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| By: | /s/ Andrew J. Schwab | |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]